000
NOUS43 KARX 141715
PNSARX

SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE...REMINDER...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1215 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013

TO:      SUBSCRIBERS:
         -FAMILY OF SERVICES
         -NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
         -EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
         -NOAAPORT
         OTHER NWS PARTNERS AND EMPLOYEES

FROM:    GLENN R. LUSSKY
         METEOROLOGIST IN CHARGE
         NWS LA CROSSE WI

SUBJECT: CHANGE TO RIVER FORECAST AND WARNING SERVICE
          EFFECTIVE AT NOON...MAY 17 2013


EFFECTIVE AT NOON ON FRIDAY MAY 17 2013...THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE WILL DISCONTINUE THE PROVISION OF RIVER FLOOD FORECASTS FOR
THE SITE ON THE SOUTH BRANCH BARABOO RIVER AT HILLSBORO WISCONSIN.

DUE TO GOVERNMENT SPENDING CUTS...ALSO KNOWN AS SEQUESTRATION...THE
US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY /USGS/ IS DISCONTINUING STREAM GAUGE OPERATIONS
AT OVER 200 LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THESE STREAM FLOW
OBSERVATIONS ARE CRITICAL TO NWS RIVER FORECAST MODELS.

IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN...ONE SUCH GAUGE IS LOCATED AT HILLSBORO.

THIS LOSS OF RIVER MONITORING DATA AT HILLSBORO WILL MAKE IT
IMPRACTICAL TO CONTINUE PROVIDING FORECASTS...AND THEREFORE THE NWS
WILL TERMINATE THE PROVISION OF FORECASTS ON MAY 17TH. DATA ON RIVER
HEIGHTS AND FLOWS AND ASSOCIATED FORECAST INFORMATION WILL DISAPPEAR
FROM THE NWS ADVANCED HYDROLOGIC PREDICTION SERVICE /AHPS/ WEB
PORTAL.

THE NWS WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AREAL FLOOD WARNINGS FOR LARGER
PORTIONS OF THE AREA WHEN NECESSARY. HOWEVER THE ACTUAL CREST HEIGHT
OF THE RIVER WILL NO LONGER BE PROVIDED.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ISSUE...PLEASE
CONTACT THE NWS IN LA CROSSE.

 MIKE WELVAERT
 SERVICE HYDROLOGIST
 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
 N2788 COUNTY ROAD FA
 LA CROSSE WI  54601
 608-784-8275
 MIKE.WELVAERT@NOAA.GOV

$$